Gaming apparatus and method having a separate but simultaneously operating bonus indicator

Abstract

A gaming machine and method comprising a primary game with a plurality of gaming symbols and a separate bonus indicator. Operation of the bonus indicator is automatically initiated upon commencement of the primary game and play of the bonus indicator is of approximately the same duration as play of the primary game. The outcome of the bonus indicator may be entirely independent of the outcome of the primary game. A positive outcome on the bonus indicator may yield either a prize for the player or an opportunity to play a bonus round game. In its preferred embodiment, the invention includes a five-reel slot game as the primary game and a single-reel slot game as the bonus indicator.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for playing a gaming machine via a controller, the method comprising:
 playing via the controller a primary game having a set of symbols; 
 receiving via the controller a wager in the form of credits; 
 in response to receiving wagered credit, 1) generating via the controller an outcome from the set of symbols, and 2) automatically enabling and initiating via the controller a separate bonus indicator having a different set of symbols, said bonus indicator to operate simultaneously with and be non-identical to said primary game, to be of approximately the same duration as said primary game; and 
 indicating via the controller and independent of said outcome of the primary game, a predetermined outcome whether a player is entitled to a bonus feature to said primary game. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said bonus feature provides the player with the opportunity to win a prize, promotional item or message from a casino. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said primary game contains a plurality of reels, each of which is capable of displaying symbols and wherein said primary game is won when a predetermined combination of symbols is achieved. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said bonus indicator is a roulette type wheel. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said bonus indicator is one or more reels. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said primary game contains a plurality of reels, each of which is capable of displaying symbols, wherein said primary game is won when a predetermined combination of symbols is achieved, and wherein said bonus indicator is a roulette type wheel. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said primary game contains a plurality of reels, each of which is capable of displaying symbols, wherein said primary game is won when a predetermined combination of symbols is achieved, and wherein said bonus indicator is one or more reels. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said gaming machine is connected to an overall casino management system which monitors and controls said gaming machine. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said gaming machine is linked to one or more other gaming machines to create a bank of hyperlinked gaming machines. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said bonus indicator is used to show participation in a tournament played across a linked group of gaming machines.